War (of Words) with Syria
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Saturday, Apr 19, 2003
[This opinion piece out of Beirut discusses the reshuffling of the Lebanese cabinet.]
The Daily Star -- April 19
Prepared for the worst
Michael Young
It was a pity former Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf was not in Beirut this week. He would have been ideal to sell the preposterous official line that the change of government in Lebanon had nothing to do with American pressures on Syria.
Several things can be said about the new government. First, neither President Emile Lahoud nor Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is happy with it. The two never got along, but the previous arrangement gave them enough followers so that they were satisfied. The latest team will mostly include men whose primary loyalty is owed to Syria, so that what we now have is a government of obdurate apparatchiks.
...
The government also provides the Syrians with several options. It has the ideological coloring necessary to allow them to stifle Hizbullah if that becomes imperative, but also to cover for a full or partial Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon if Damascus deems this necessary to protect its eastern flank. One should watch and see what Syrian President Bashar Assad does in the coming weeks, particularly if the Bush administration raises the heat on him by making demands on Hizbullah and on Damascus-based militant Palestinian groups.
...
There is another problem: By turning the government into a bastion of pro-Syrian diehards, Damascus has brought Lebanon into the front lines of its dispute with the United States. We should expect to get hit by Washington’s backhands, whether directed against Hizbullah or the economy. That’s a pity. Acting tough is useful only if you have the resources to endure. Syria and Lebanon do not.
At least we can take solace in the fact that by standing united we might fall much the same way.
Michael's blog, beirut calling
[Some detail on the proposed sanctions.]
NewsMax -- April 19
The Return of the Syria Accountability Act
In 2002, well before the war in Iraq focused attention on Syria’s terrorist connections, Saddam sympathies, and military aid to the enemy, elements in the U.S. Congress were ready to unload sanctions on the Arab country. Now that stalled effort is back on track with new momentum spawned by a White House that is calling the Hezbollah- harboring country a “rogue nation.”
Last year, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., introduced the Syria Accountability Act -- only to see it languish as the Bush administration reportedly worked behind the scenes to quash it as a distraction from Iraq and as inappropriate considering Syria’s ostensible cooperation with the U.S. in ferreting out al-Qaida.
But Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y., reintroduced the Syria Accountability Act in the House a week ago, remarking, "I just think it is really time to get tough with Syria."
CNN - April 19
Iraq neighbors urge U.S. to leave
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- The U.S.-led coalition must bring stability and security to Iraq and then remove its "occupying" forces from the country as quickly as possible, foreign ministers from neighboring countries have said.
Represented at the meeting were six countries that border Iraq -- Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait and Jordan -- as well as Egypt and Bahrain.
The ministers meeting in Riyadh Friday also endorsed a proposal floated this week by Syria to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction. They also criticized recent comments by Bush administration officials accusing Syria of giving refuge to members of the deposed Iraqi regime.
[An old story, but worth repeating.]
Ha'aretz -- February 18, 2003
Sharon says U.S. should also disarm Iran, Libya and Syria
By Aluf Benn
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said yesterday that Iran, Libya and Syria should be stripped of weapons of mass destruction after Iraq. "These are irresponsible states, which must be disarmed of weapons mass destruction, and a successful American move in Iraq as a model will make that easier to achieve," Sharon said to a visiting delegation of American congressmen.
Sharon told the congressmen that Israel was not involved in the war with Iraq "but the American action is of vital importance."
via antiwar.com
Ha'aretz -- April 19
Analysis / Assad begins to fold as the U.S. demands Damascus behave appropriately
By Zvi Bar'el
The verbal missiles cruising in recent days between Washington and Damascus obscured an even more interesting statement made this week. Iranian President Mohammed Khatami said in public that "Iran won't defend Syria if it comes under attack by the United States,"and that "if the U.S. changes its behavior toward Iran, it is possible to consider a change in Iran's policy toward the U.S."
Khatami's statements have a special significance in light of the tensions between the U.S. and Syria, even though they do not have an immediate practical implication.
Islam Online -- April 17
U.S. Presses Syria To Kill Anti-Israel Resistance: DFLP
By Abdul Raheem Ali
CAIRO - The current American and Zionist pressures on Syria are aimed at bringing to a cessation all forms of support rendered by Syria to Arab movements resisting the Israeli occupation, particularly Hezbollah, Secretary General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Nayeef Hawatma told IslamOnline.net Thursday, April 17.
[Non-information.]
White House -- April 16
Press Gaggle with Scott McClelland, spokesman
Q Any indication that Syria is cooperating?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Syria knows our views. And they know what they need to do. I think there are people closer to the situation there that would be in a better position to brief you on the exact specifics of it -- of the current situation.
[Non-information.]
White House -- April 17
Press Gaggle with Claire Buchan, Deputy Press Secretary, at Crawford Elementary School
Q Syria's proposal that there's a weapons-free zone within the Middle East, including Israel, as well? Is that something that the administration is even listening to or considering? And d you know where that is?
MS. BUCHAN: Well, Syria -- we have made clear what Syria needs to do. They know our views and I will leave it at that.
[Release from US about Powell's Thursday night interview on PBS, followed by transcript.]
US Department of State -- April 18
Powell Urges Syria to Reconsider Its Policies
Says Middle East would be better off without WMD
"As I have said previously, and the President has certainly indicated
in his own remarks, there is no war plan on anyone's desk right now to
go marching on Syria," Powell said.
Powell said the reason why Syria is being highlighted now is that
there is a "changed situation" and "a new dynamic" in the Middle East
following the liberation of Iraq.
---
MR. LEHRER: Well, as you know, this has been read in the Arab world,
and also in some places in Europe and elsewhere, the United States as
saying, "Hey, Syria, look next door at what happened to Iraq. If you
don't get your act together, the same thing could happen to you."
Is that a correct message? Is that the message the U.S. wanted to
send?
SECRETARY POWELL: It's not a message the United States has delivered.
The President hasn't spoken in those terms. Neither have I, and, for
that matter, neither has Don Rumsfeld or Condi Rice.
[We take a break from our usual content for a story from the far eastern front. North Korea drops its defiant stance in reaction to US success in Iraq. But ... doh!]
U.S. official: N. Korea move 'insulting'
Upcoming talks in doubt
CNN -- April 18
From Elise Labott
WASHINGTON -- A senior Bush administration official said Friday the United States is reconsidering whether to hold talks with North Korea after the East Asian nation said it is again reprocessing nuclear fuel rods.